16 suspects in criminology student’s hazing charged

MANILA, Philippines — Criminal charges have been filed against 16 people who allegedly took part in hazing rites that led to the death of criminology student Ahldryn Lery Bravante in Quezon City.

Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan, director of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD), said complaints for violating Republic Act 11053, otherwise known as the anti-hazing law, as well as robbery were filed against the suspects before the city prosecutor’s office.

Among those charged were Justine Artates, Mark Leo Andales, Lexer Angelo Manarpies and Kyle Michael de Castro, all officers of the Tau Gamma Phi fraternity, who are in the custody of the QCPD.

The suspects underwent inquest proceedings on Wednesday afternoon.

Police said they included robbery in the complaint as Bravante’s cell phone and wallet, which contained P20,000 in cash were missing.

Fourteen of the suspects have been identified. The other two are only known through their aliases, probers said.

2 more suspects surrender

The filing of the complaints came as two more suspects in Bravante’s hazing death turned themselves in to police.

John Xavier Arcosa, 18, was accompanied by his parents when he surrendered to the La Loma police station 1 on Wednesday.

Arcosa is a first year student of the Philippine College of Criminology, where the graduating Bravante was also studying.

The other suspect, John Arvin Kaylle Diocena, surrendered in front of a school in Barangay Masambong yesterday.

Maranan urged the other suspects to surrender, warning them that manhunt operations are ongoing to capture them.

“Sumuko na kayo para matulungan ang pamilya na mabigyan ng katarungan ang pagkasawi ng kanilang anak,” Maranan said.

The 25-year-old Bravante was pronounced dead on arrival in a hospital in Manila where some of the suspects brought him when he collapsed after the initiation rites, which lasted for two hours in an abandoned building in Barangay Sto. Domingo on Monday.

Bravante died from at least 60 paddle blows to the body, according to the Philippine National Police.

The PNP urged parents to keep tabs on the activities of students amid Bravante’s killing.

PNP chief publicist Col. Jean Fajardo said schools should also monitor their students to keep them out of harm’s way.

“Lagi nating i-monitor kung ano ba 'yung kanilang mga activities. Isang buhay na naman ang nawala because of hazing,” Fajardo told reporters.

Quezon City vows justice

The Quezon City government yesterday condemned the killing of Bravante.

In a statement, the local government condoled with the family of Bravante and committed to work with the police to ensure justice.

“Once again, this incident demonstrates that hazing is a life-threatening practice that violates the principles of human dignity. Physical harm and violence through hazing and other initiation rites should be abhorred and condemned in accordance with law,” city hall said.

The local government ordered the QCPD to apprehend the other suspects.

“Loyalty and brotherhood should not be used as a basis to harm others and cause them permanent damage or death,” the city government said. — Janvic Mateo